Brick-Effect Stone Cladding for Facades and Interiors: Guide
Quick answer: brick-effect stone cladding is a thin slip of concrete that is water-repellent throughout (reconstituted stone) which imitates a brick wall and is bonded to the substrate, on a facade or indoors. The Vetonek range has two main families: multi-format cladding (Lerín old brick, Funes rustic brick, Cabanillas fine courses), with pieces of different lengths for a pattern that never repeats, and fixed-format brick slips (Tafalla, San Adrián, Castejón and Larraga), which reproduce one specific brick in several colours.
What brick-effect stone cladding is (and is not)
It is not a structural brick: it is a decorative finish a few centimetres thick, fixed with tile adhesive like a tile. If you are looking for the clay brick used to build a wall, see our guide to clay bricks; and for an exposed block wall, the one on exposed concrete blocks. The data sheets of the models state use indoors and outdoors, and all are water-repellent throughout: the treatment runs through the whole piece, not just the surface.
Multi-format: old, rustic and fine-course brick
Multi-format cladding combines pieces of several sizes in one box, so the wall does not repeat its pattern. It is the best choice when you want the look of a reclaimed wall.
- Lerín cladding (old brick): recreates worn old brick, with rounded edges and irregular surfaces. Five tones (Aneto, Aspe, Ceniza, Nuez and Rhin), 46 kg/m², a 0.5 m² box and a 20 m² pallet. Laid with a 1 to 1.5 cm joint.
- Funes cladding (rustic brick): inspired by Roman brick, it combines heights of 2, 2.5 and 3 cm with lengths of 10 to 100 cm, in the Crudo tone. It is the heaviest of the family at 66 kg/m²; its data sheet asks for a sound substrate that can take that weight. 0.5 m² box and 10 m² pallet.
- Cabanillas cladding (fine courses): pieces 10 cm high in three lengths (20, 30 and 40 cm), in Aneto (white) and Ceniza (grey), 40 kg/m² and a 30 m² pallet. Can be laid with a narrow joint or butt-jointed.
Fixed-format brick slips
If you prefer a recognisable brick and a regular pattern, the following four slips are laid with a joint of approx. 1.5 cm and, according to their data sheets, have a reaction-to-fire rating of A1:
- Tafalla brick: piece of 2.5 x 5.5 x 24 cm, approx. 32 kg/m² and 14 colours, from Nordic whites to reds, earth tones, greys and black. 32 m² pallet.
- San Adrián brick: piece of 2 x 6.5 x 21 cm, approx. 32 kg/m², in Blanco, Polar, Támesis and Negro. 30 m² pallet.
- Castejón brick: elongated format of 2.5 x 4 x 36 cm, approx. 40 kg/m², in Amanecer, Blanco, Ceniza and Támesis. 20 m² pallet.
- Larraga brick: thin brick of 2 x 3 x 24 cm, approx. 26 kg/m², in Amanecer and Támesis. It is the lightest of the family; 32 m² pallet.
How to choose between them
- Style: old, reclaimed brick (Lerín), Roman bond of long pieces (Funes), small courses with an alpine feel (Cabanillas), loft and industrial (San Adrián, Tafalla), contemporary elongated lines (Castejón) or fine handmade-style brick (Larraga).
- Colour: Tafalla offers the most tones (14), against two for Larraga and Cabanillas and a single tone for Funes. Look at the wall at the time of day you will see it most and ask for a sample.
- Substrate weight: from about 26 kg/m² (Larraga) to 66 kg/m² (Funes). Compare it with the condition of your wall and, if in doubt, ask your project technician.
- The joint: with Lerín, the colour and finish of the joint (flush or recessed) define the style; make a 1 m² sample first.
Corners and finishing pieces
For corners, pillars and reveals you would normally order the matching corner piece, which avoids mitre cuts. The Tafalla brick corner comes in a box of approx. 1 linear metre, and equivalent corners exist for San Adrián, Castejón, Larraga and Lerín. For San Adrián there is also a half brick (2 x 6.5 x 10 cm), used to start alternate courses without cutting. Calculate the linear metres of all edges before ordering: it is the piece most often forgotten. You will find more options in our guide to corners, mouldings and special pieces.
Installation and quantities
The data sheets agree: a sound, clean, level substrate; C2T tile adhesive with double buttering; horizontal courses with staggered joints; pointing with mortar. The details are in our guide to installing reconstituted stone cladding. For ordering, most models are sold in boxes of approx. 0.5 m² (1 m² is two boxes) or as a full pallet; add a margin for cuts and buy everything at once so the tones match.
You can see the whole range in the Coatings collection and in Facade Stones.
Frequently asked questions
Can brick-effect stone cladding be used on an exterior facade?
Yes: the data sheets state use indoors and outdoors, and all the models are water-repellent throughout. Even so, check that the substrate is sound and firm and can take the weight of the model you choose.
Which brick-effect cladding is the lightest?
Among the brick models, Larraga brick, at approx. 26 kg/m². The heaviest is Funes cladding, at 66 kg/m².
What is the difference between old brick and rustic multi-format brick?
Old brick (Lerín) imitates worn brick with rounded edges, in five tones. Rustic multi-format (Funes) reproduces Roman bond with heights of 2 to 3 cm and lengths of 10 to 100 cm, in the Crudo tone.
Do I need corner pieces?
For corners, pillars and reveals, yes: the matching corner pieces avoid mitre cuts and give a continuous finish. Depending on the model they are sold in boxes of approx. 1 linear metre (0.75 for Larraga).
Which adhesive and joint should I use?
C2T tile adhesive with double buttering. The joint is approx. 1.5 cm for the Tafalla, San Adrián, Castejón and Larraga slips, 1 to 1.5 cm for Lerín, and narrow or butt-jointed for Cabanillas.
If you already know the style you want, compare the data sheets of Lerín cladding, Tafalla brick and San Adrián brick, or read the guide to reconstituted stone cladding to see other finishes such as rubble, travertine or slate.
